| + | Spikelets several-fld. ; lemmas convex or keeled, 5-9- nerved, usually 2-toothed at apex and awned from between the teeth, sometimes awn less, the awn usually straight. — Species about 100, mostly in the north temperate zone. |
| + | The genus contains a few forage grasses and several annual species that have been intro. into the U. S., especially on the Pacific coast, where they have become troublesome weeds. Among the weedy annual species may be mentioned B. secalinus, Linn., chess or cheat, with smooth sheaths, drooping panicles of ovate short- awned spikelets, the lemmas convex and smooth; B. commulatus, Schrad., resembling the preceding but the sheaths hairy; B. mollis, Linn. Resembles chess, from which it differs by its hairiness and more erect panicle; B. vittosus, Forsk., with large few-fld. spikelets, the awns about 2 in. long; B. tectorum, Linn., delicate, slender spikelets in drooping panicles the awns 6-7 lines long; B. rubens, Linn., with erect compact panicles of purple spikelets, the awn 9-11 lines long. The last 3 are especially abundant in Calif. Cheat is used for hay in Ore. |